A Compendium of LA’s 7 Best New Hotel Bars

You don’t have to go home, and you CAN stay here

April 17, 2018 9:00 am

Tax Day: the one day pretty much everyone wishes they were a Republican.

Also a day on which most of us could use a drink.

Luckily, L.A. has seen a spate of boutique hotel openings in recent months, which means tons of snazzy new bars where you can not only wet your whistle, but also stay the night.

From rooftop views to luxe accommodations to delicious grub, here’s everything you need to toast a successful year.

… or let your accountant know he just lost a client.

You Did Damn Good: Giannini Bar, The NoMad
Downtown

For romance and an air of cosmopolitan cool, you can’t beat NoMad’s Giannini Bar. Dark. Chill. Bogart-esque. Of all the gin joints you can walk into, this is the one where you’re most likely to meet an enigmatic femme fatale with a backstory that doesn’t quite fit together.

649 S. Olive Street (map)
Website

You Can’t Complain: The Highlight Room, Dream Hollywood
Hollywood

If your tastes skew toward modish designs and scantily clad starlets, you’ll want to take the elevator to the rooftop at the Dream Hollywood. The pool cabanas run late, and there are two bars, one of which has DJs and a dancefloor. Get it.

6417 Selma Ave. (map)
Website

You Did Damn Good: Spier 73, The InterContinental
Downtown

You’re on top of the world! Seriously, Spier 73 is the tallest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere. And on the floors below, there’s an omakase sushi spot (Sora), a French Steakhouse (La Boucherie) and several other dining options.

900 Wilshire Blvd. (map)
Website

You Hit the Jackpot: Beverly Hills Bar, The Waldorf Astoria
Beverly Hills

For the power players, this spot is bright, airy and loaded with elegance. Like all dining at the Waldorf, the menus are done by Jean-Georges.

9850 Wilshire Blvd. (map)
Website

You Can’t Complain: Broken Shaker, Freehand Hotel
Downtown

Aside from the killer name and downtown views, this rooftop bar is helmed by a James Beard nominee and winner of Tales of the Cocktails. The drinks here come laced with coffee tinctures and strange Wonka-esque liquors like tempus fugit kina. And you should definitely visit this spot’s restaurant, The Exchange, for some Israeli-style eats.

416 W. 8th St. (map)
Website

You Did Damn Good: Joao Bar, The Jeremy
West Hollywood

The Jeremy has a great rooftop bar (finally, L.A. has rooftop bars). But for our money you can’t beat the intimacy of their lobby bar, Joao. It’s small and chill and great place to start or end a night.

8490 Sunset Blvd. (map)
Website

You Can’t Complain: Bar Figueroa, Hotel Figueroa
Downtown

Technically this bar isn’t open yet, but keep it in your sights. The interiors of the hotel look like a throwback to L.A.’s mission days, and the menu at the restaurant next door is by the chef behind Tasting Kitchen.

939 S. Figueroa St. (map)
Website

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